Supporting device



Sept. 4, 1951 H. c. FOX

SUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1946 Harold C. Fox

INVENTOR.

Sept. 4, 1951 H. c. FOX 2,567,063

SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR.

Harold C Fqx BY M A 7706MB Patented Sept. 4, 1 951 uumao s'rArss PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING DEVICE Harold 0. Fox, Dallas, Tex.

Application September 14, 1946, Serial No. 697,003

13 Claims. (Cl. 248-25) 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in supporting devices, and more particularly to devices adapted to be used for securely maintaining a business machine, such as I a typewriter, in operative position on a working surface of a desk or cabinet.

One of the more common working surfaces upon which a typewriter is supported is that of a drop-center type desk, wherein the working surface is moved to an inclined position when the top of the desk is closed to cover the machine. Typewriters mounted upon the working surface of such desks must be secured thereto to maintain the machine in proper operating position and to prevent damage to the machine when the desk is closed.

Various types of securing or supporting devices have been used for securing typewriters to the tilting work surface of such desks or cabinets. However, such previous devices either have completely or partly covered the lower portion of the machine and mustbe removed when the machine is to be serviced or repaired, or do not permit use of sound absorbing pads and the like, or are not adapted to permit interchangeable use of typewriters since they are fitted to hold or receive only the particular machine or make of machine to which they are secured or fitted.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide animproved supporting device for securely maintaining a typewriter in operating position on a work surface.

An important object of the invention is to provide a supporting device, of the character described, which is adapted to be secured to and engaged with the typewriter at the rear thereof to releasably maintain the typewriter in operative position on the working surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting device, of the character described, which is adapted to receive and securely maintain in position various types and sizes of typewriters, whereby typewriters may be interchangeably secured to the working surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting device of the character described, by means of which a typewriter may be releasably secured to the tiltable working surface of a desk 'or cabinet and wherein said supporting device does not interfere with the servicing or repair of the typewriter when it is removed from said surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a supporting device, of the character described, by means of which typewriters may positively be held in operative position upon a tiltable surface and which permits the use of sound reducing pads or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supporting device of the character described which is arranged to be located at the rear of the typewriter, where it will not interfere with the normal use thereof and does not present an unsightly appearance, or interfere with the re pair or servicing of the machine, or mar the finish thereof. v

A particular object of the invention is to provide a supporting device for securing a business machine such as a typewriter against displacement from operating position on a working surface and which is so arranged that the machine is non-rigidly secured to the working surface, whereby sound and vibration is not readily transmitted to and amplified by the working surface.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure l is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a supporting device constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the same in operative supporting position,

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the supporting device,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of a modified form of retaining post for the supporting device, 1

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a modified form of the supporting device, illustrating the same in supporting position, and

v Figure 5 is a side elevation of the strap and tie bar of Figure 4.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates the working surface of a desk or cabinet (not shown), which may be of the drop-center type. A typewriter, illustrated schematically at H, having the usual pair of rear cushioning feet I2 and pair of front cushioning feet I3, is supported upon said working surface.

Obviously, without some means for securing the typewriter to the working surface, the typewriter would tend to crawl or slide out of correct operative position on the surface when in use, and would positively slide out of operative position when said surface is tilted.

For securely maintaining the typewriter in operative position when the working surface is tilted, a supporting mechanism is provided which is formed with an elongate base member or bar l5 having an upstanding post or catch member [6 securely fixed, by welding or otherwise, at each end of such base plate. The posts or catch members I6 are illustrated as being fiat straps extending vertically upward from the inner edge of the base bar and having their upper portion turned rearwardly at an angle of approximately 45:.degreesgfr-Qm, the verticaL fas illustrated at I1. The base bar is firmly secured to the working surface If) by means of screws I8 which, extend through openings in the base bar and are threaded into the working surface. the base bar may be bolted or otherwisesecured on the working surface.

The length of the base bar. l.5 is such,..that.the posts or catch members 16 are spaced so as to Of. course,-

be positioned substantially in alignment with the sides of the frame of the usual typewriter, or other machine, with which the supporting device istobeused.

A strap member 20,*havingan enlarged head 2| with a transverse slot 2-2jformed therein of a size adapted to engage over one of the posts I6,

is shown as being secured at one side'of the bottom of the typewriter between the rearcushioning foot 12 and the frame and'as being clamped in such position by the bolt M- which; secures the cushioning foot to'the frame of "the'typewriter. The bolt eXtends through an elongate longitudinal slot 23"formed in the strap, and this elongate slot permits longitudinal'adiustment of the strap with respect to the machine, whereby the same strap may be used with difierenttypes of machines'to properly'position the machinewith respeot to the supportingdevice. Manifestly, the strap may be secured to the frame in any desired suitable manner.

A similar strap member a is provided'with a considerably enl rgedhead 24 having an elongate narrow transverse slot 25" formed therein which is considerably longer than the width of the upright post i6 over which itis'adapted to engage. This elongated slot-25 permits the strap member 20a to bepositionedata plurality ofpoints while the slot is engaged with thepostfwhereby diiferences in the width; of theframes of various makes of typewriters or'similar machines may be compensated for. considerable variation inwidth-ofthe typ -w i r to which the strap is secured and yet the slot 2-5 will engage overthe upright post It, and the same base member and posts maybe utilized to engage in the slots 2| and 24 of strapswhich are secured to variousmakes andwidthsof'machines. j I j Also, the height of theiyerticalportion of; the posts I6 is sufficient to permit the slots in, the straps to remain engaged with suc'h'vertical portion when the straps are connectedto a machine having the highest cushioning, feet customarily found on such machines and when a sound absorbing and cushioning pad" or the like is interposed between the feetand the working surface, if desired. Thus, a considerable variation in the vertical position of the straps will be accommodated by the posts, whereby different types and sizes of machines may be interchangeably connected with such posts.

When the slots in the straps are engaged with the posts IE, it willreadily be seen that the type wli e .o her machi e will besecure r held against sliding. movement, on the working surface II) when the same is tilted.

Therefore, there maybe A channel member 26 has its forward end s cured by welding or otherwise to the base member I5 at its mid-portion, and extends rearwardly from said base member. A sound absorbent sheet member 27 of a thickness corresponding substantially to the thickness of the base member is fixed on the under side of the outer end of the channel member and serves as a pad to prevent the channel member from marring the working, surface .and to prevent undue transmission of sound and vibrations to' such working surface. A pressure member or arm 28 is pivoted at its lower end on a shaft 29 mounted transversely on the forward or inner end of the channel member 26. The pressure member may also be in the form. of a channel which has the web at its lower end cut away to permit its sides or flanges to extend downwardly past the sides of the rearwardly extending channel member 26. A ratchet rack ell-having downwardly facing buttress teeth formed thereonis secured by welding orotherwise to the back of the pressure-arm and extends longitudinally thereof. A sound-absorbing and cushioning pad 3|, preferably of soft rubber'or the like, is securedby rivets or other suitable means at the upper free'endof the-pressure arm and is adapted to engage the rear of the typewriter or other machine which ismounted on the working surfaceto-prevent the machine from tilting when the workingsurface istilted, as Will hereinafter be explained. Y

A pawl or stay member 32, which may also be formed of a channel, is pivoted at its lower end on a shaft 33 which is mounted transversely of the rear or outer end of the sldesof the-rearwardly extending channel member 23; The-upper free end of the web-of the pawl or stay member is provided with a beveled end surface 34 which is adapted to engage'with the rack teeth, in the manner illustrated in FigureZ, to-prevent the pressure arm 23 from swinging backwardly. Thus, it will be seen that the pressure arm may be swung inwardly until the pad 34 is pressed tightly against the rearof the typewriter and the pawl 32 may be swung toward the pressure arm until the beveled end surface 34 engages the teeth of the ratchet rack 30to securely hold the pressure arm tightly against the rear of the machine to prevent tiltingof such machine. The provision of a plurality of teeth'on the-ratchet rack permits adjustmentofthe force orpressure with which thepressurearm engages the back-of the machine, and also permits adjustment of'the pressure arm to accommodate various odd-shapes at the back of themachine being secured-to the working surface-.

A spring 35,:preferably ofthe helical coiled tension type, has one end secured to the-transverse shaft 29 and its other end secured in openings 36 provided substantially centrally of thepawl member. The spring exerts its'force to constantly urge thepawl member toward the pressure arm and, by virtue of the engagement of the pawl member with the pressure ,arm tends to urge the pressure arm toward the back of .themachine.

From the foregoing it willreadily be seenthat the engagementof theistraps Zfijandj [kdwith the upright posts It prevents thetypewriter or other machine from sliding on the, working surface when said machine is operated or when thesurface is tilted, and that the engagementofthe pad 3.lof, the pressure arm withlthe, back of the ma,- chine at a point, considerably aboye the straps prevents the machine from tilting when the working surface is tilted. It will also be seen that the rearwardly inclined upper portion 11 of the catch post will prevent the straps from disengagement with the posts, since the machine cannot move rearwardly or tilt while the pressure arm is engaged against the rear of the machine. Therefore, the straps cannot slide off the posts and the typewriter or other machine is securely and firmly held in position on the working surface. The provision of the sound absorbing pad 3| at the upper end of the pressure arm also reduces the transmission of sound or vibration from the machine to the working surface.

When it is desired to disengage the typewriter from the supporting device to permit removal of the machine from the working surface, it is only necessary to move the beveled end surface 34 of the pawl 32 from engagement with the rack teeth and to swing. the pawl away from the pressure arm. This permits the pressure arm to be swung rearwardly away from the back of the machine, whereby the machine may be lifted until the slots 22 and 25 are disengaged from the posts l6.

To facilitate such removal, a hook 38 is provided at the upper end of the rear side of the pressure arm which is adapted to engage in an opening 39 formed in the upper free end of the pawl, whereby the pressure arm will be positively held in a rearward, retracted inoperative position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

It will be seen, therefore, that a supporting device has been provided which is adapted to be used for securely and positively, but non-rigidly, maintaining a business machine is operative position on the working surface of a desk or cabinet which is swung or tilted when the machine is enclosed in the desk or cabinet. It will further be seen that the supporting device is arranged to be mounted at and to connect with the rear of the machine, whereby it is out of sight and does not interfere with normal use of the machine. Also, the supporting device is so designed that the machine is positively held in operative position on the tiltable working surface in such a manner that sound absorbent pads or the like may be interposed between the cushioning feet of the machine and the working surface, if desired. The supporting device is particularly adapted to securely hold the machine on the working surface irrespective of the usual variations in height and width of diiferent makes and types of machines. Further, the supporting device is so designed that it does not interfere with the serviceing or repair of the typewriter or other machine, since only the straps remain connected with the machine, and since such straps are connected along only the side frame section of the machine where they do not cover any of the working parts thereof.

It will further be noted that the supporting device is adapted to interchangeably support and securely maintain various types and sizes of machines on the working surface, since the provision of the elongated slot 25 in one of the straps permits it to engage with the catch post even though.

connected to machines of different widths, and since the adjustable pressure arm 28 is adapted to be adjustably pressed against the rear of various shapes and sizes of machines to securely hold the same in position on the working surface.

Obviously, other forms of posts or catch members may be provided for engagement with the straps 28 and 28a for preventing the machine from sliding on the working surface Another such post is illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the post is formed. of an elongate fiat strap 48 which extends vertically upward from the forward or inner edge of the base bar l5. The upper portion of the strap is bent forwardly and downwardly parallel to and spaced from its lower portion to provide a downwardly extending hook arm 4| which is adapted to engage in the slots 22 and 25 of the straps 28 and 28a. This form of post will positively prevent upward disengagement of the straps from the post.

A slightly modified form of supporting device is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, wherein an elongate base member or plate is provided with an integral upstanding post or catch member 46 at each end. The posts are illustrated as being fiat straps extending vertically upward from the forward edge of the base plate. The base member or plate is firmly secured to the working surface by means of screws 4? which extend through openings in the base member and are threaded into the working surface.

A channel member 48 has its forward end secured by welding or otherwise to the mid-portion of the base member and extends rearwardly from said base member. A sheet member 49, preferably of a sound absorbent material, of a thickness corresponding substantially to the thickness of the base member is fixed on the under side of the outer end of the channel member and serves as a pad to prevent undue transmission of sound and vibrations to the working surface and to prevent the channel member from marring such working surface.

A pressure arm or member 50 is pivoted at its lower-end on a shaft 5! which extends longitudinally of the base plate through the sides of the channel member 48. The pressure member may also be in the form of a channel which has its web cut away at its lower end to permit its sides or flanges to extend downwardly past the sides of the channel member, as shown in Fig. 4. The pressure arm is provided with a ratchet rack 52 having downwardly facing buttress teeth formed thereon, said rack being welded orotherwise secured to the back of the pressure arm and extending longitudinally thereof. A sound absorbing and cushioning pad 53, preferably of soft rubber or the like, is secured by rivets or other suitable means at the upper free end of the pressure arm and is adapted to engage the rear of the typewriter or other machine in the same 'manner and for the same purposes as that of the form previously described.

An elongate pawl or stay member 54 is pivoted at one end on a shaft 55 which is mounted transversely of the flanges at the rear of outer end of the channel member 48, being secured on said shaft by means of a set screw 56. The upper free end of the pawl is provided with a beveled end surface 51 which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet rack to prevent the pressure arm 50 from swinging backwardly.

1A helical tension spring 58 has one end connected with the mid-portion of the pawl and its other end connected with a rearwardly projecting arm 59 of a trigger member 60 which is mounted on the shaft 5| between the side flanges of the channel member 48 and is held stationary thereon by means of a locking screw 6|. The trigger member 68 is also provided with an integral upstanding finger 62, which is adapted to be moved to turn the shaft 5|, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

A hook 63 is mounted on the upper rear end oithenrees re min ed n ehseeee e oe h nafii formed t e uier dot th paw f r-th nur qse e h dihs he ne ts .6, s sho j hin F ure a. or the urpose f. ma nt inin a ieit n a men with saidpost- The erb r. sn e ided ith; ana r or paced. on it inally ext ndin narrow 9 H; into which, t e. pper ends ,v saidests r adapted eslide Thesp ihe rt itsfor betht rgehe paw 4 toward the essnree in i lehdt tlltt the a 59 of, h t i e ber E lie tur-ht ha t. 5 naeo n erl kw se irect o heh kmembers 61 wh eh re connected tq he outene s oi the aft 5. a e-hrs dhwerdihe p sts 6 by e res ient a t onv oithe h ine .3, and. w en e e- 0. s n ge i h he up ht pos s 6... the mann r. il ustra e in Fi ure 4.. the ook membe s act o etain the tie-bar a ainst i nl eem nt from t nes i qh on ai posts. The tie-bar i l str ted e be: in p eferab y a ha nel mem er whic is rved at its mid-portion to permit the: press tre arm to. swin as far as necessary toward. he in chine bein securedon the. wqrking surface ith out str kin he. tie-bar- Apair oistran mem rs hhav hs downwardly turned. flanges is, on their rea end a se ured by means of. bolts 14 to the. extr meeh er nds or the.:tie-bar. Elongate lo i udinally e tenda lots 15,.formfld in the oute e s of he iebar provide for adjustment of. he. osition. th straps 12,; on the tie-bar to accommodate various Widths; of machines. The straps have lgngi; tudinally. extending. slots 16 which are adapted tareeeive the bolts (not shqwm which secure the rear. cushioning feet of the typewriter orother machine to the frame of suehm eh he. h r by the strap a e e ed o the. machine n he same. manner as was escr bed fer he pr vious form.

Obvious y, the base p ate 45 may e. Qihh suitable desired length, since it v fignotnecessary that the upri htho 6. be osi oned. in lie mentwi the i mbers r t e f ame o h machines which are to be secured to the Working surface. It is only-necessary that the posts be spaced sufficiently Wide apart that, when they are;engaged; with the slots H in the tie-:bar 10, the machine which is connected to the tie bar will be heldagainst twisting. The height of. the upright: posts 46 issuch that the tie-.bar will still engage with theposts when the bar is connected to a machine having the highest cushioningifidt customarily found on such machines. and is pgsitioned on a sound absorbin and cu h on ng pad o the k T er fore. mach n a ie e widths, having feet of various heights, may be sec redto the w rkin sur a b he sup r ng devices, and the machine may rest upon a sound absorbing pad, if desired.

When, it is desired todisengage the, machine from the supporting device to permit removal of such machine from the working surface, itis only necessary to move the beveled endsurface he-timb may be li ted engagement th. theh risht h st M machine mar e. i ieder remer d rom; t w rkin sur ace.

Obvi usly, this. formerthe supporting. device pr vides a more o pact. arran m t; iii-the. base. plate-and upr ehtposts... t wi be. noted that all theadvantagesof the first form of U-DDDI i-Q d vi are incorporated th s form .ofzthe device. Obyiously, th,e .-h oo l; members of. this: form. may. be. omitted, in d ired and posts similar,tov the-posts ['6 of the-form first described may be used instead of the posts 415.. Furthermore, the. length of the base. bar: 1 Prof t formfirst described maybe shortened until the catch members. l,..are...positioned. ata point. at which they will engageein the slots in thetiee bar it, wherebyvthe. tie-.bar. and straps .12; may, be used with; the form. previously. described.

The foregoing descriptiomoftheinvention is explanatory only and. changes. in the detailsof the constructions. illustrated may be. made by those-skilled in the art, Within the scope. of the appended claims, without. departing. from the spirit of: the invention.

What I claim anddesireto secure. by. Letters Patent is:-

l. A supporting device adaptedtdbe mounted cn'a tiltableworking surfacefor-holdinga typee writing. machine in operating position thereon including, a base member having means whereby ihmaybe secured to theworking suriace and having proiecti-ng connecting postsdisposed at therear oi the machine, connecting members connectable to the underside of the-'typewriting machine and-projecting rearwardly beyond the rear 01* the machine and engageable' with the connectingposts for detachably connecting the machine with the base member, and a supporting' member carried by the base member and swingable vertically with respect to the working surface andengageable withthe rear of the chine'above the connecting members to prevent said machine from tilting when'the working surface is tilted.

2: A supporting device adapted to be mounted on a tilt-able working surface-for holding a typewriting machine in operating position thereon including, a base member havin spaced upright posts andmeans for securing it toa working surface, connecting means'engageable with the upright postsof'the base member and having means for connecting-said connecting means to the underside of the typewriting machine. and also'having post. receiving slots therein disposed rearwai'dly beyond the rearofthe machine and engageable with theupright posts on thebase member, wherebymovement oi the machine on the working surface is restrained by such engage-.- ment, and a retractable supporting arm. carried by the base member swingable vertically with respect to theworking surfaceand engageable with the rear of the machine abovethe rearwardly projectingconnecting means to prevent the 9 machine from tilting on the working surface when the working surface is tilted.

3. -A supporting device adapted to be mounted on a tiltable working surface for holding a type writing machine in operating position thereon including, a base member having means for securing it to the working surface at the rear of the typewriterand havin spaced upstanding catch members thereon, connecting members having means for connecting them to the frame of the typewriter and having openings formed therein for receiving the upstanding catch means on the base member, said connecting member openings being positioned beyond the rear of the typewriting machine whereby they engage the upstanding catch members at points spaced rearwardly from the machine to prevent movement of the typewriter on the working surface, an elongate pressure arm pivotally mounted on the base member and swingable vertically with respect to the working surface into engagement with the rear of the typewriter above the connecting members to prevent the typewriter from tilting when the working surface is tilted, and means on the base member engageable with the pressure arm for releasably securing the pressure arm in supporting position.

4. A supporting device adapted to be mounted on a working surface for holding a machine in operating position thereon including, a base member having means for securing it to the working surface at the rear of the machine, catch means carried by the base member, connecting means having means for securing it to the machine and engageable with the catch means to non-rigidly connect the machine with the base member whereby said machine is non-rigidly held in operating position on the working surface, retractable means carried by said base member for preventing disengagement of the connecting means from the catch means, and means engageable with the rear of the machine for preventing said machine from tilting when the working surface is tilted.

5. A supporting device adapted to be mounted on a working surface for holding a machine in operating position thereon including, a base member having means for securing it to the working surface at the rear of the machine, catch means carried by said base member, connecting means having means for connecting it to the machine so as to project beyond to the rear of the base of the machine and having receiving openings engageable with the catch means to non-rigidly connect the machine with the base member whereby the machine is non-rigidly held in operating position on the working surface, and an elongate retractable pressure arm pivotally mounted at its lower end on and swingable in a plane vertical to the base member engageable with the back of the machine above the connecting means to prevent the machine from tilting when the working surface is tilted.

6. A supporting device of the character set forth in claim 5, wherein the catch means is provided with means preventing disengagement of the connecting means from said catch means when the retractable pressure arm is in engagement with the back of the machine.

7. A supporting device, of the character set forth in claim 5, having means for releasably and adjustably maintaining the pressure means in engagement with the back of the machine.

8. A supporting device for holding a typewriter in operating position on a working surface ineluding, 'a' base memberadapted to be secured to the working surface atthe rear of the typewriter, spaced upstanding catch posts carried by said base member, strap connecting means adapted to be secured to the base of the sides of the typewriter frames-rid to project rearwardly therefrom, said strap connecting means having openings for receiving the catchposts whereby the typewriter is; non-rigidly connected with the; base member and is non-rigidly held in operating positionon the working surface, a pressure arm swingably supported by the base member and engageable against the back of the typewriter, adjustable means for releasably securing the pressure arm in engaging position, and means on the catch posts for preventing disengagement of the strap connecting means from said posts when the pressure arm is in engaging position.

9. A supporting device of the character set forth in claim 8, wherein the strap connecting means is provided with means permitting adjustment of said connecting means to fit typewriters of different widths.

10. A supporting device of the character set forth in claim 8, wherein the catch posts are sufiiciently high to permit vertical adjustment of the strap connecting means on said posts whereby a sound absorbing pad may be interposed between the typewriter and the working surface.

11. A supporting device for holdinga typewriter in operating position on a working surface including, a base member having means for securing it to the working surface at the rear of the typewriter, spaced upstanding catch posts carried by said base member, strap connecting means having means for securing it to the base of the sides of the typewriter frame and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said strap connecting means having openings for receiving the catch posts whereby the typewriter is non-rigidly connected with the base member and is non-rigidly held in operating position on the working surface, a pressure arm swingably supported by the base member and engageable against the back of the typewriter, adjustable means for releasably securing the pressure arm in engaging position, and hook means carried by the base member resiliently urged toward the catch posts and arranged to prevent disengagement of the strap connecting means from said catch posts.

12. A supporting device for holding a typewriter in operatingposition on a working surface including, a base member adapted to be secured to the working surface at the rear of the typewriter, spaced upstanding catch posts carried by said base member, strap connecting means adapted to be secured to the base of the sides of the typewriter frame and to project rearwardly therefrom, said strap connecting means having openings spaced to receive the catch posts whereby the typewriter is non-rigidly connected with the base member and is non-rigidly held in operating position on the working surface, a pressure arm swingably supported by the base member and engageable against the back of the typewriter above the base thereof to support the typewriter against tilting when the working surface is tilted, adjustable means for releasably maintaining the pressure arm in supporting position, means on the catch posts for preventing disengagement of the strap connecting means from said posts when the pressure arm is in supporting position, and vibration and sound absorbing means interposed between the pressure arm and the back of the typewriter. 

